GENDER EQUALITY, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, UN, GLOBAL COMMUNITIES AND JAPAN*

概要

In this course, students will learn "gender equality", (i) its meanings, (ii) its importance for social and economic development and international development cooperation, and (iii) its current situations and remaining challenges in Japan and in the World. Students will learn and understand (1) why the development cooperation, its agreements and commitments, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), consider "Gender Equality" important as own goals and/or cross-cutting strategies, and (ii) what kind of strategies and actions are being carried out through the multilateral development cooperation, especially the UN development cooperation and bilateral development cooperation such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In the classes, we look into the work of UN Program and Funds (UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, etc.), IOM, and UN Technical Organizations (UNESCO, WHO, etc.), and that of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Through the globalization process, the UN system and international development cooperation have changed, to better fit for the purposes. In 2010, Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and in 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were approved. Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment have been considered as one of the central, key factors for development and poverty reduction (SDG1), from a human rights point of view. It has become mandatory that all development assistance programs incorporate gender equality as cross-cutting strategies, if not its own objectives. Japan is one of the G7 countries and also a donor country for international development assistance. However, Japan ranks number 125th in the World Economic Form’s Global Gender Ranking (2023). Japan is even behind some Asian countries which she supports (e.g. The Philippines: 16th, Laos: 55th, etc.), her neighboring countries (South Korea: 105th, and China: 107th), and also some African countries (e.g., Rwanda: 12th, Namibia: 8th) , and Latin American countries (Nicaragua: 7th, Costa Rica: 14th, etc.). In the class, we look into Japan’s current gender equality situation and challenges related to and caused by gender equality, in comparison with other countries. For example, Japan is facing low fertility and aging, while the world population is increasing, especially in developing regions such as Africa. These population and development factors are closely related to gender issues, and therefore, to tackle these challenges, gender equality and women’s empowerment become important factors. In the countries facing low fertility and aging, population decrease and therefore, some governments intend to secure the economically active population thorough immigration and social and labor policy reforms, focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

目標

For students to 1) understand gender equality, women’s empowerment, from the global point of view, looking into international development cooperation, United Nations System’s work, Japan and other countries; 2) understand why gender equality and women’s empowerment have been addressed in the sustainable development goals (SDGs), different sectoral goals, such as education, health, reproductive health and rights, population and development, immigration, climate changes, the environment, food security, humanitarian assistance, among others; 3) understand why and how gender equality is engaged as one of the key strategies, in order (i) to tackle global social and economic issues such as poverty reduction, food security, low fertility and ageing, reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, international public health, education, labor, child labor, climate change, refugees and immigration, and (ii) to effectively provide humanitarian and development assistance effectively, through looking into many real examples of programs and projects; 4) understand the purposes and strategies of gender quality and women’s empowerment in international – both multilateral and bilateral - development cooperation, e.g.by the UN System as well as JICA; 5) increase their awareness of the UN System’s development program, in order to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment, for the SDGs, especially for poverty reduction, “without leaving anyone behind” from a human rights point of views; 6) increase their awareness of the multilateral (UN, etc.), bilateral international cooperation, development programs, and projects, based on gender equality and human rights, through using case studies, statistics and examples, and group discussions; 7) understand the roles of the United Nations, Governments, multilateral and bilateral development agencies, NGOs, Civil Societies (CSOs), media, parliamentarians, academic institutions, private sector, for gender equality; 8) understand Japan’s gender equality situation, its challenges, and better think the step forwards, what needs to be done; and 9) understand the international development cooperation by the international organizations, UN Systems, NGOs, Governments, private sector, with a deeper understanding of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and global development challenges. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: (1) To enhance competencies to understand the followings: • gender equality and its challenges in the world and Japan • the importance of gender equality to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as cross-cutting themes and stand-alone objectives; • the reasons why gender equality is important in international development cooperation and for Japan; • how gender equality is integrated into development cooperation programs and projects of the UN system and bilateral cooperation (e.g. JICA); (2) To enhance competence to think possible strategies, solutions and directions related to gender equality, in order to tackle its challenges, in global communities, in diverse societies, Japan and its challenges; and (3) To enhance competencies to work for international organizations, governments, the private sector, and NGOs with a sound understanding of gender equality.

授業外の学習

Review the PDFs of the presentations to be posed in LOYOLA and MOODLE, and web-links to be indicated in the class.

所要時間: 190 minutes